There was a moment during Manchester City’s 2024 pre-season tour of the United States that revealed just how much Pep Guardiola values Enzo Maresca.
Ahead of the friendly against Chelsea FC in Ohio, Guardiola was informed that Maresca had started to attract comparisons to him after taking charge at Stamford Bridge. Some even jokingly called the Italian “Pep diet”.
Guardiola, clearly amused and slightly confused, asked if the nickname had anything to do with the beard or hairstyle before turning serious when discussing his former assistant.
The City boss spoke warmly of Maresca’s conviction, personality and coaching intelligence, qualities that have long made him one of the most respected young coaches in Europe in football circles.
And now, with uncertainty continuing to surround Guardiola’s long-term future at the Etihad Stadium, Maresca’s name refuses to drop from conversations about succession plans.
The idea is not surprising.
In Manchester City, succession planning is rarely chaotic. Almost every major decision of the last decade has been built around the continuity, structure and maintenance of a football identity that extends beyond one individual.
That is exactly why Maresca appeals.
Unlike an outsider entering unknown territory, the Italian already understands the inner workings of the City Football Academy and the expectations that come with managing one of the world’s most dominant football institutions.
He experienced it from several angles.
Maresca’s first stint at City came during a difficult period of Covid, when travel restrictions complicated preparations and disrupted routines across football. Even before he fully arrived in Manchester, he was already heavily involved behind the scenes, organizing tactical meetings remotely, analyzing performances and providing ideas on player development.
Those early impressions mattered.
After officially taking up a role in City’s Elite Development Squad, his impact was immediate. The under-23 team won Premier League 2 convincingly, while several young talents under his guidance later moved on to senior football.
Players who worked with him regularly praised his tactical details, calm communication and clarity on the pitch.
His reputation continued to grow.
A difficult spell in Italy with Parma Calcio in 1913 briefly halted his rise but did little to affect the respect City held for him internally. Guardiola soon brought him back into his first-team coaching staff, where Maresca became part of a squad that delivered one of the best seasons in English football history.
Triple campaign 2022-23. she raised City to another dimension.
During that historic run, Maresca was often seen working closely with Guardiola during tactical discussions and match preparations. Within the club, his influence and understanding of Guardiola’s positional philosophy became increasingly apparent.
But what makes him particularly attractive as a future option is not just that he copies Guardiola.
Many coaches try to imitate City’s football without understanding the demanding culture behind it. Maresca seems different because he combines these tactical principles with his personality and management style.
His achievements since leaving City have reinforced that belief.
A promotion with Leicester City FC showed his ability to rebuild a team under pressure, while his time at Chelsea showed he can survive the scrutiny and instability that comes with managing one of England’s biggest clubs.
The results may not have always convinced all fans, but within football there remains a strong admiration for the way its teams control possession, dominate territory and remain committed to a clear identity.
For City’s hierarchy, this is extremely important.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and CEO Ferran Soriano have spent years building a club structure designed to outlast any individual manager.
That framework already exists.
The recruitment model, academy philosophy and football operations are designed to ensure continuity even after Guardiola finally leaves. In many ways, City have spent years preparing for exactly this scenario.
Replacing Guardiola will continue to be one of the most difficult jobs in modern football.
Few managers in history have so completely transformed a club, maintaining relentless standards year after year. Expectations will be huge, scrutiny inevitable, and comparisons constant.
Still, if City really want continuity rather than revolution, there are few candidates who make more sense than Maresco.
Whether he will eventually succeed Guardiola remains to be seen.
But within football, there is a growing belief that City are not just looking for another elite manager.
They are looking for someone who already understands the machine.
